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Concord’s Climate Preparedness Week

Climate Preparedness Week begins September 23!

Climate Preparedness Week banner

Concord recognizes September 23-30, 2020 as “Climate Preparedness Week”

Concord has committed to taking action on climate by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 and preparing to be resilient to the changes to our climate that we are already experiencing, including extreme heat, extreme precipitation, intense storms, and increased flooding.

For the second year, Concord Free Public Library and the Sustainability Division are collaborating to participate in Climate Preparedness Week, a nationwide initiative organized by CREW (Communities Responding to Extreme Weather).

We invite and encourage all residents to join us in recognizing Climate Preparedness Week by participating in events hosted by Concord Free Public Library.

Join us for a week of virtual events! Learn more on the CFPL Events Calendar.

The Climate Ribbon Project

All week 9/23-9/30 – Outside Concord Free Public Library

The Climate Ribbon is an arts ritual to grieve what each of us stands to lose to Climate Chaos, and affirm our solidarity as we unite to fight against it. Share what you most love and don’t want to lose to climate change. Write and share what you most love and don’t want to lose to climate change on a 2-foot ribbon. Use a ribbon or strip of fabric from home or pick one up from the Main Library’s Sudbury entrance area. Drop off your completed ribbon in the collection box at the Main Library’s Sudbury entrance area, or tie your ribbon with the other ribbons on display.

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sept23climaterealitypresentation

The Climate Reality & How to Talk to Your Kids About It

Virtual presentations by long-time Climate Reality mentors:

Keith Bergman, Concord Resident, retired municipal manager, MAPC past president

Harriet Shugarman, Executive Director of Climate Mama and Author of Talking to Your Kids about Climate Change, Turning Angst to Action

Wednesday, September 23rd at 10:00 AM (Premiering on Facebook Live)

Tune in for virtual presentations from two influencers and leaders in the climate movement, Keith Bergman and Harriet Shugarman– both long-time mentors with The Climate Reality Project founded by former Vice President Al Gore.

Through a Climate Reality “Truth in 10” presentation, learn about the climate crisis and its solutions from Concord resident Keith Bergman, one of the first fifty trained by Mr. Gore in 2006, and a leader of Climate Reality’s Boston Metro Chapter.

Learn how to talk to your kids about climate change from author Harriet Shugarman, Executive Director of ClimateMama, chair of Climate Reality’s New York City Metro Chapter, and recipient of Climate Reality’s 2017 Green Ring Award.

Community Idea Session – Sustainability and Climate Action for Concord Free Public Library

Friday, September 25th at 12:00 PM (Register for Zoom Meeting)

Wednesday, September 30th at 7:00 PM (Register for Zoom Meeting)

Join us for a 1-hour online community input session about the Library Corporation’s sustainability planning work. Learn about the sustainability baselining that the committee has done and share your ideas for a sustainable Concord Free Public Library.

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Film Discussion – Call of the Forest

Tuesday, September 29th at 7:00 PM (Register for film and Zoom discussion)

Join us for a discussion of the film, Call of the Forest. Take a walk in the woods with beloved Irish-Canadian scientist and author, Diana Beresford-Kroeger, as she reveals our profound human connection to the ancient & sacred northern forests and the essential role that they play in sustaining the health of our planet. Screen the film in advance between 9/23 and 9/29. Register here and we will send you a link to the film and the Zoom discussion.

CHILDREN’S EVENTS

Children’s Story Hour

Wednesday September 23rd at 10:00 AM (Zoom)

Join Library staff on Zoom for some short stories, songs, & rhymes! This program is geared for pre-schoolers, but all ages are welcome to join. The stories this week will focus on sustainability and gratitude for our earth. Register here to receive the Zoom link.

Nature Connection Storytimes

Tuesday September 29th at 10:30 AM (Register for Zoom)

Tuesday September 29th at 3:00 PM (Register for Zoom)

Wednesday September 30th at 4:00 PM (Register for Zoom)

Join The Nature Connection through Zoom as we explore plants and animals, geek out over nature, and connect with ourselves and those around us in new ways – all through nature-based stories and poems! 3 storytimes are available for different age groups.

The Nature Connection believes everyone (of all abilities and backgrounds) should have access to nature, and offers accessible and inclusive programs, incorporates mindfulness, and facilitates social connection.

Join us during Climate Preparedness Week as we explore how plants and animals respond to changes in their environment, the importance of bio-diversity and amazing resiliency of nature.

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Events

Thoreau’s Trees Confront Climate Change: Will we still have forests in 50 years? And why we should care

Dr. William Moomaw, a lead author of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winning climate report, will explore the role of forests and other ecosystems in moderating climate change in combination with new technologies and our behaviors. The threats to our forests from climate change and other stresses will be a major theme. The discussion will be moderatedby Delia Kaye, Concord’s Natural Resources Director.

William Moomaw is Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and Distinguished Visiting Scientist at Woodwell Climate Research Center. He received his PhD at MIT in Physical Chemistry. As a member of the chemistry department at Williams College, he directed the Center for Environmental Studies. He served as a Congressional Science Fellow and worked on the legislation that banned CFCs from spray cans and on the 1976 National Forest Management Act.

Professor Moomaw was a 5-time lead author of IPCC Reports addressing the science and technological mitigation of Climate Change. He was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for his “Outstanding Contributions to our understanding of climate change and its global impacts and to the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.”

To ensure adequate seating, please register at https://thoreaus-trees.eventbrite.com/